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A gutsy 35 run partnership from former Canadian u19 captain Rustam Bhatti (23*) and Durand Soraine (12*) inched Canada past Namibia in a tight finish at Wanderers.

Canada started positively in their run chase of 184 and were well positioned at 0-35 in 7.3 overs before the loss of Patel for 26 runs wobbled the upper middle order that saw Zeashan Siddiqui (7), Ruvindu Gunasekera (12), and Niitsh Kumar (5) all dismissed within a 5 over period. Canada, now positioned at 55-4, received consolidation from the bat of Jimmy Hansra (49) who combined for a hard fought partnership with Usman Limbada to bring the game back into focus. Losing Limbada early in the 29th over, Hansra continued with Junaid Siddiqui (11) and Rustam Bhatti before being dismissed in the 42nd over with Canada requiring 35 runs from 47 balls.

With the victory, Canada will earn its first two points in the World Cricket League Championship tables in which the top two teams automatically qualify for the 2015 Cricket World Cup in Australia.

Canadian Head Coach Michael Dighton had the following post match comments:

"A solid bowling performance enabled us to exact revenge for the ICUP loss on Sunday. After winning the toss and sending Namibia in, Osinde and Sorraine were fantastic with the new ball and decimated the top order. We spoke about the need to hit the wicket hard on a good length and making the batters play early in their innings as there was some extra bounce and carry on offer. Junaid Siddiqui caught well in the cordon and Nitish took a one hander at cover to remove Burger, the mainstay of Namibias' batting."

DIghton continued.

"Our chase got off to a wonderful start through Hiral and Ruvindu but we lost 3 wickets in the 10-20 over phase to make things slightly difficult for ourselves. Jimmy and Usman played sensibly and put the chase back on target, however we kept losing wickets through some ordinary shot selection whenever we looked like taking the game out of Namibias' reach. In the end it was an excellent innings from Bhatti that got us over the line in the penultimate over. He was very well supported by Durand who completed an outstanding game."

Canada will close out the Namibia tour with a 50 over WCL fixture on Thursday.

Canada are chasing 184 to win in the first of two 50 over matches with Namibia. Winning the toss and electing to field, the Canadian opening battery of Henry Osinde (2-46) & Durand Sorain (3-25) pegged back the aggressive Namibians who struggled throughout their top order. Raymond van Schoor (90) remained the only notable resistance to the Canadian attack.

"At the halfway mark the game remains in the balance. Zeeshan Siddiqi and Tyson Gordon put on a fantastic century partnership that kept us in the game when we were in a perilous position at lunch. Captain Rizwan Cheema and debutant Junaid Siddiqui provided useful contributions as we posted a score that was slightly under what we were after (300). Zeeshan deserved a hundred having battled his way through some good Namibian bowling but he holed out just short of the magical three figures on the stroke of tea.

Our makeshift bowling attack performed admirably and fought to the end of play. Durand Sorraine and Junaid Siddiqui were the pick of the bowlers, Durand also taking an absolute screamer of a catch at first slip. Early breakthroughs tomorrow will be the key, then if we bat well in our second innings we will provide the Namibians with a difficult run chase on the fourth day." - Head Coach Michael Dighton

Cricket Canada is pleased to announce the following team for the ICC America’s Women’s Division 1 tournament in Cayman Islands. The tournament, which runs from April 23-27th, will serve as the first round of qualifying for the 2014 Women’s World Cup.

Former Sri Lankan international Suthershini Sivanantham will captain the Canadian side which will participate in a one week training camp in Cayman Islands starting on April 16th.

Cricket Canada’s annual meeting of the Board of Directors concluded this past Sunday from Richmond, BC.

Highlights from DAY ONE included a review of Cricket Canada’s strategic plan, a commitment to develop sustainable junior pathways, addition of the Newfoundland Cricket Association to the membership body, and a “Call to Action” campaign to foster grass roots, volunteerism, awareness, & participation.

The Cricket Canada Lifetime Achievement Award was presented posthumously to former Vice President Clifford Cox and accepted by his wife Doreen in front of several of his friends and family.

DAY TWO was headlined by the election of a new Cricket Canada executive team. First Vice President, Ravin Moorthy was elected as the organization’s President succeeding Ranjit Saini. British Columbia’s Vimal Hardat was re-elected as VP as was Calvin Clarke to his position as board Secretary. Nova Scotian Amit Joshi is the new comer to the group being also elected as a VP.

In brief remarks on Monday, Cricket Canada’s new President was grateful for the responsibility given by the board.

“I would like to thank the Board of Directors for showing their confidence in me to lead Cricket Canada through this important period of growth and development. Cricket is cross-cultural, generational, and connects millions of Canadians in communities across the country. Cricket Canada will be calling on all stake holders including Canadian Corporations and the Government of Canada to support the organization through these exciting next steps.”

Ravin is the first Albertan to assume the post of President and has established a solid reputation for consistent success in both program & portfolio managment and organisational governance. He has held multiple executive positions within Cricket Canada, Cricket Alberta, and the Calgary & District Cricket League during a period of 15 years volunteer service to the sport in Canada.

Moorthy was appreciative of the work done by his predecessor, Ranjit Saini, who had previously held the post since 2010.

“I would like to thank Ranjit for his tireless efforts to move the organization forward during his tenure. He was instrumental in establishing Cricket Canada’s Summer Festival and played a prominent role in Cricket Canada being accepted into the Canadian Olympic Committee.”

Cricket Canada announces squad for Namibia tour April 5th to 12th, 2012. Canada will play both a 4 day Intercontinental cup fixture and two World Cricket League Championship matches from Wanderers in Windhoek, Nambia.

"By the time we land in Namibia the squad will have had some time at home and away from the merry go round that has been the last 5 months. I expect that we make the transition into the longer forms of the game quickly against an opposition that greatly impressed during the qualifying tournament and one that is reaping the benefits of being involved in the South African domestic competition. It will be a tough test away from home but one that we are looking forward to."

The wicket of the Rizwan Cheema early in the innings allowed Scotland to get on top of the Canadian batsman as they struggled to hit the ball to the boundary throughout their innings.

Gunasekera looked in good form before he guided a Jan Stander delivery to Majid Haq at backward point and only really Baidwan troubled the Scotland bowlers with 20 before Haq again claimed his wicket. Haq then bowled Bhatti with his next delivery, before Desai negotiated the hat-trick ball.

Majid Haq has been one of Scotland’s top performers with the ball as he finished the tournament with a total of 17 wickets to finish the tournament as the tournaments leading wicket taker.

Canada completed their 20 overs on 135/8, Moneeb Iqbal bounced back from the disappointment of the previous day to return with figures of 4-0-15-2 while Richie Berrington took 2 wickets from 2 overs which only cost 14 runs.

OTTAWA, March 22, 2012– On Tuesday, Cricket Team Canada won their match against Nepal at the International Cricket Council World T–20 Qualifier. Today, they will face the team from Ireland to contend for an opportunity to compete for a top‑20 world ranking.

As the single largest contributor to sport in Canada, our Government is proud to support Cricket Canada in its goal of further developing the sport of cricket in this country, including increasing their school programs and promoting the participation of women and girls in the sport. In fact, our government was the first to provide program funding from Sport Canada’s Sport Support Program to Cricket Canada in 2007.

We also appreciate the work of the International Cricket Council and their efforts to help Cricket Canada grow and develop the game in Canada. In 2009, over 20,000 children played cricket in both school and community-based development programs. At the high-performance level, Canada has qualified to compete in the past three Cricket World Cups.

As Minister of State (Sport), I offer my best wishes to the members of Cricket Team Canada in their decisive game against Ireland today. Canadians across the country are proud of how far their talent, determination and teamwork have taken them so far.

Ireland have stormed through their first game in the knockout phase of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier in Dubai with a facile ten-wicket win over Canada. With stiffer obstacles ahead - Netherlands are next - Ireland will not be complacent but were comfortably superior to the opposition in all departments.

When a wide outswinger from Trent Johnstontempted Hiral Patel to drive and edge to slip, it was the fifth time Ireland had taken a wicket in the first over in their eight games here. Ireland's pace pair has been a key element in their seven-match winning streak and so it was in this game. Johnston was given the Man of the Match accolade for his 2 for 9 from four overs.

"The more games we play, the better I'm getting," he said. "I didn't get a lot of wickets early on in the tournament but I like bowling here. It reminds me of Australian type pitches as there's a bit in it early on. As a bowler you know there's always something there if you're prepared to bend your back."

Canada opted to bat after winning the toss but only Ruvindu Gunasekera bedded down in the face of Johnston and Boyd Rankin's probing. Max Sorensen took a pasting in his first over, going for three boundaries, but redeemed himself on his return with a wicket maiden as the Canada captain Rizwan Cheema tried to clip him over mid-on. Sorensen, who was born in South Africa, took 3 for 7 off his last three overs, after a mixed start to the tournament.

Canada have closed out the Group Stage of World T20 Qualifiers in Dubai with an 18 run win over Nepal in Sharjah.

Winning the toss and electing to bat first, Canada struggled early as the in form Ruvindu Gunasekera was dismissed for 1 run. Rizwan Cheema (15) blasted a few boundaries before making his way back to the pavilion and so went the woes of Canada's middle order who all made it to double digits, however were unable to carry on.

Jimmy Hansra top scored for the Canadians with a 34 ball 29 run performance as Canada set Nepal a target of 101.

The Nepalese response was spirited as they set about to chase the total in the required 12.2 overs to leap frog Canada on Net Run Rate.

Canada breezed by Denmark on Monday with an agressive 95 run performance from opening batsmen Ruvindu Gunasekera and a supportive 43 run innings from Hiral Patel.

Coach Michael DIghton was happy to back in the wins after a heavy defeat to Afghanistan on Sunday.

"An excellent win by the boys today and a real confidence boost ahead of our must win game against Nepal tomorrow. Ruvindu and Hirals' 109 run partnership was outstanding and what we have been looking for, with both playing good innings. Tyson Gordon hit the last ball for 6 to give us momentum going into our bowling innings. He has to be the fastest runner between wickets in world cricket! Big Henry was the pick of the bowlers and generated considerable pace."

Canada now face Nepal on Tuesday in what will be a one match showdown with former Canadian Coach Pubudu Dassanayke for a chance to enter the playoff stage of the tournament.